The Level 2 course is intended to be the continuation of the Level 1 course, going deeper into physics problem solving and taking the students further in physics competitions. After this class students are expected to get the points needed to go to the USAPhO. The curriculum will cover the same areas as the F = ma competition, i.e., parts of classical mechanics, at a level beyond AP physics. This course will not require calculus, but we will learn some of it. Recommended for students who took Level 1 class or at least Honors / PreAP high school physics. Prerequisites: strong self-motivation, math skills at Precalculus level, our Level 1 class or at least Honors / Pre-AP Physics.
Main goal: After taking this course, students will be ready to solve more than a half of the problems at the annual F = ma competition in January, which is often enough to qualify to the next level and is considered equivalent to passing the AIME math competition. A number of our students have gone to the USAPhO after taking Level 2 class, and many of them also won medals there!
To experience the spirit of our classes, please see the recent recording of our "open house" webinar in which we talked about the rules of the F=ma exam, Einstein's discoveries of 1905, and a number of problems from a recent F=ma exam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lng7_rtpgq0
To get a feel for what to expect at the F=ma contest you can download a free book written by our instructor, Dr.Branislav Kisacanin and his most successful student, three-time USAPhO Gold winner, Eric K. Zhang: https://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2020/pastexams.cfm (click on the blue box there)
| Who | Students in grades 10th - 11th, occasional 9th grader, self-motivated |
|---|---|
| Tuiton | $495 Full payment required at the time of registration. No checks accepted. |
| Course Size | Maximum 15 students |
| Online Q&A Sessions |
Spring 2020 Semester:
Saturdays (7:00pm - 8:00pm CST)
January: 11, 18, 25 February: 8, 15, 22, 29 March: 21, 28 April: 4, 18, 25 No classes: Feb 1, Mar 7, Mar 14, Apr 11 To maximize learning, students are strongly encouraged to attend the weekly online Q&A session. These sessions
are recorded and posted online so students who miss them can review them at a later time. While attendance of Q&A Sessions is not mandatory, it is highly recommended.
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| Additional Benefits | This course will go a long way to prepare the kids for at least a part of the AP Physics tests. Again, our primary goal is to prepare the kids for physics competitions; AP readiness is a side benefit. |
| Expected Prior Knowledge | Level 1 course at the Academy or at least Pre-AP high school physics. Very strong math skills are needed at the level of Precalculus. |
